Yada-yada-yada-yada

I’ve attended another meeting of Local 282, the Rochester local of the nationwide Amalgamated Transit Union, the union for bus-company employees; bus-drivers, mechanics, etc.
For 16&1/2 years (1977-1993) I drove transit bus for Regional Transit Service, the transit-bus operator in Rochester, NY.
My stroke October 26, 1993 retired me suddenly on disability; although I was tiring of it.
I belonged to Local 282, the bus-union at Transit (Regional Transit Service).
Last night’s (Thursday, October 15, 2009) meeting was significant. The International (headquarters) in Washington D.C. was threatening to trustee us.
Over three years had passed without a contract, and 400+ grievances were to be arbitrated.
This was stonewalling by our bosses, but the implication was that our local leadership was dysfunctional.
An International Vice-President had been sent to —1) see what was going on, and —2) try to resolve a contract with our bosses.
Regarding the first item:
—Our union has two full-time officials, a President and a Business-Agent.
Most other locals have only one; a combination President/Business-Agent.
Going to only one full-time officer would save money — our union is severely in debt.
(Well sure; our bosses at Transit have us swimming in lawyer fees.)
Our union’s response is a slew of bylaw changes, to implement the savings needed.
Whether our current leadership can deal with the bosses at Transit is debatable — it seems they couldn’t, whereas the International Vice-President could.
Regarding the second item:
—Transit is almost impossible to negotiate with.
They always have an excuse to avoid negotiations.
And the head-honcho doesn’t participate at all. All he does is preen for the TV cameras — like Transit is a smashing success because of his administration. He brags about making a “profit;” and was written up as such in the N.Y. Times.
Um, a “surplus” is hardly a “profit.” Seems the N.Y. Times forgot Transit was a “not-for-profit;” a publicly funded enterprise.
—Our union is not allowed to strike; it’s illegal.
Our union is a public-employees union.
To supposedly offset the fact that we can’t strike, we negotiate with our employers.
If that doesn’t work (and it didn’t), impasse is declared, and the contract dispute goes to fact-finding by an impartial party.
If the contract is still not resolved, we can go to arbitration, whereby an independent arbitrator writes the contract.
This happened years ago. An independent arbitrator allowed the Company to have part-time workers, a condition our union would have never allowed.
Contract arbitration is always a gamble — win some, lose some.
The International Vice-President, one Gary Rauen (“ROW-in;” as in “wow”), wanted to avoid contract arbitration.
As such, this so-called “significant” union-meeting turned out to be not what was predicted.
There was no discussion of the threat to trustee our union — a condition Rauen somewhat suggested.
Instead, it was Rauen saying “lemme tell ya where we’re at.”
Apparently he managed to get Transit to negotiate, although I think our bosses were noticing our membership was fed up.
“I don’t like it,” he said; “but it’s better than arbitration.
At least you’re getting to vote on a proposed contract — which is better than rolling the dice.
Go to arbitration, and ya get half of what your bosses want, including Mark Aesch’s (“ahshh”) beloved ‘Incentive Program.’
He went down to N.Y. City and presented his Incentive Program to transit managers statewide; they moaned and told him to take it back to Rochester.
‘Well, I’ll show yaz!’ he said. ‘I’ll get it in my contract.’
Guys, this Incentive Program sucks. It’s playing off the good guys against the so-called ‘bad.’
Debbie walks into the negotiating room, and asks a favor; that we separate the Incentive Program from the contract, and vote on both.
If the contract passes, okay; and if the Incentive Program fails, that’s okay too; we have a contract.
Guys, it’ll never pass.
Aesch comes down to the Drivers’ Room, and bewails the union badmouthing his Incentive Program, which would reward bazilyuns to his goody two-shoes.
He was sent packing — told to never do that sort of thing again.
We’re very close, Brothers. They asked me to come back at 10 p.m. tonight, so we can hammer out the final details.
I don’t like it, but it’s better than arbitration.”
Not the meeting I expected — Rauen left; about an hour.
I should mention this meeting prompted almost a hundred to attend.
That’s a record. Usually there’s question of whether we can generate a quorum; 15.
Many were retirees though, or so it seemed. I saw many who drove bus back when I did — now retired.
Of interest to me was “no reduction of retiree benefits.” —My health-insurance is a Transit retiree benefit.
The Recording-Secretary thereupon began reading all the proposed bylaw changes.
No discussion, just reading. Discussion and vote (fireworks) will be next meeting; I don’t know if I will attend — but probably will.
Various blabbermouths tried to start discussion, but were quashed by Union Vice-President Ray Dunbar.
“Way to go, Ray!” someone yelled.
The two current full-time officers sat quietly while bylaw changes were read that would put one of them out of a job.
Another blusterhead tried to derail International Vice-President Rauen earlier, but Rauen deflected him.
It’s obvious. Rauen knows how to parry blusterheads; no wonder he got somewhere with Aesch and his lackeys.
The Recording-Secretary was a bit flustered reading all the proposed bylaw changes. Most difficult was “he-slash-she,” which was in every phrase. “Yada-yada-yada-yada,” at the speed-of-light.
“Do we have a motion to adjourn?” asked President Joe Carey (“CARRY”).
“So moved.” 9:30 p.m. — not too bad. Many had already left.

• I had a stroke October 26, 1993.
• “Trustee us” is to take over local administration of our union.
• “Mark Aesch” is the head-honcho at Transit.
• “Debbie” is a Transit official; one of Mark Aesch’s lackeys.